Idris Nazir (Junade Khan) has outmanoeuvred Carla Connor-Swain (Alison King) in Coronation Street, sabotaging the Underworld factory to force her into selling it at a knockdown price. The unscrupulous businessman, aided by girlfriend Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and teenage accomplice Brody Michaelis (Ryan Mulvey), has been acquiring property on the Cobbles through dirty tricks, and his latest target is the iconic knicker factory.
Sabotage at the factory
When charm failed to sway Carla, Idris resorted to foul play, disrupting a business meeting that could have saved Underworld. In Tuesday's episode, Carla confided to Lisa Connor-Swain (Vicky Myers) that she could not afford to give staff a Christmas bonus this year, unaware that Idris was listening. He then sent Brody to sneak into the factory and trigger the sprinkler system, leaving the premises waterlogged.
With Carla on the brink of losing everything, Idris is waiting for the right moment to make her an offer she cannot refuse – selling the factory for a fraction of its worth.
Brody's conscience threatens plans
Brody's loyalty to his foster-mum Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor), who works at Underworld, gives him reason to care about the factory's closure, making him a potential threat to Idris. After showing a loss adjuster around the factory, Carla tells Lisa she doubts they will pay out, while Brody watches in disgust as Idris feigns sympathy.
When Sally and Sean learn of the sale via email, they are devastated, and Brody finds Sally in tears at the pub. He confronts a furious Idris and threatens to tell Carla what he did.
Carla's difficult decision
In the café, Carla tells Sean that nobody is more upset about the factory than she is, and that laying everyone off is her last resort. Idris approaches to offer false sympathy, and later corners Brody in the Rovers, assuring him that once the factory is his, workers will get their jobs back on better pay.
